By James Bovington
Horsforth School student Felicity Smith had been around Thai boxing as long as she could remember.
And while she was pleased to see her older brothers Finlay and Fergus establishing their reputation as Muay Thai fighters, she’d always shied away from training let alone competing in the sport which saw her parents crowned international champions.
“I’ve now just returned from a two-week fight camp in Thailand which ended with me getting a stoppage victory over my French opponent in front of maybe a thousand people at the Samui stadium on Ko-Samui Island,” said Felicity, who turns 18 in January.
“My hobby was dance, although I also represented my school in other sports like swimming. I kept attending Muay Thai shows and ended up thinking I could do this. I said perhaps a bit naïvely that fighting looked easy.
“My brothers made fun of the idea. In fact, they laughed their heads off. Maybe their way of encouraging me. If so, it worked as I threw myself into training and have now won six of my seven bouts.”
Horsforth School year 13 student Felicity studies Health and Social Care, Food Science and Nutrition and Criminology.
In Thailand she was training twice daily with morning and late afternoon sessions each of two hours at the Yodyut gym. Bramley-based Bad Company has a long tradition of working with them. Each session was preceded by a 2km run from her accommodation to the gym.
Her brother Finlay was there also training and they could encourage each other.
Felicity added: “The temperature often reached 35 degrees, so nobody has problems making fight weight. It was fun living with other young women who were also preparing to fight. I already knew an Australian called Caitlin from last December, but it was good to make new friends including from Germany and the UK.
“There was a lot of sparring and sometimes it became hardcore. At home you get to know what to expect so exposure to different styles helps. I enjoyed my bout and knew I can do it.”
This was Feliecity’s second major fight in Thailand this year, as in June, she had won a gold at 52kg at Bangkok’s Amazing Muay Thai Festival representing Team England.
“We’re understandably proud of our courageous daughter Felicity who goes by the moniker giraffe girl,” said mum Lisa Houghton-Smith. “She’s all arms and legs. She trains so hard and it’s exciting seeing her progress.”
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